Juan Mata signs one-year contract extension at United

Our long national nightmare is finally over. All those sleepless nights wondering what would become of our lovely Juan Mata can stop for now, as Manchester United have announced that the wee Spaniard’s contract has been extended for a further year. Mata, who would have been out of contract in the summer, had the clause activated “some time last week,” according to the manager.

Although the arrival of Alexis Sánchez puts Mata’s regular first team place under threat, José Mourinho spoke in glowing terms of Mata on Monday:

“Mata is very important. When I arrived one-and-a-half years ago, [they said], ‘Mata is in trouble, in trouble, in trouble’, and now he’s getting an extension of one more year. An important player for me; important player for the club; important player for the other players.”

If he’s that important, why hasn’t a new deal been agreed, then? Ah well, no need to worry about for that for now. Mata himself, as he always has, seems perfectly happy at the club:

“I still feel very happy and very proud to be part of this club. I think everyone that belongs to Manchester United should feel privileged, and that’s how I feel.

“I’m happy with everyone at the club and, obviously, with the manager and my team-mates. Once you are part of this club, your football career is not the same; it changes, because this is one of the biggest clubs in football history. Everyday I try to tell myself how lucky and how privileged I am, try to take advantage of every single training session, and try to see how important it is to be a Manchester United player.”

What a man.